Fibrous sheet conditioning machine



, April 1944- R. H. GREENE I 2,347,555

.FIBROUS SHEET CONDITIONING MACHINE Filed June 15, 1942 s Sheets-Sheet 1 April 1944- R. H. GREENE FIBRQI JS SHEET CONDITIONING MACHINE Fil ed June 15, 1942 s Sheets-Sheet 2 April 25, 1944. GREENE 2,347,555

FIBROUS SHEET CONDITIONING MACHINE Filed June 15, 1942 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented Apr. 25, 1944 UNITED STATES, PATENT OFFICE j V J, ,23 FIBROUS SHEET CONDITIONING MACHINE Robert H. Greene, Marion, Ind. Application June 15, 1942, Serial No. 447,061

12 claims.

This invention relates to fibrous sheet conditioning machines of that type employed for rendering pulp or sheet paper stock as it is unwound from its original roll in which form it is usually supplied and conveyed to another apparatus in which it is impressed or reshaped to a definite form, for example, such apparatus as'a corrugating machine.

customarily, prepared sheetpaper stock is subjected to numerous sprays of steam during transit passage of the prepared sheet to a reshaping machine in which it is subjected to more or less tortuous treatment, the purpose generally being to reduce the hard, dry, brash or brittle character of the original stock to render it plastic and more susceptible to reformation.

It is found that the usual manner of applying moisture to the sheet stock fails in uniform distribution of dampness as Well as the amount thereof, resulting in mushing, cracking, breaking or warping of various areas of the sheet, causing the finished product to be defective.

An object of the present invention is to provide a machine by which to subject sheet fibrous material to treatment in such manner as assures the most advantageous conditions of moisture and temperature of the stock upon reaching the machine in which it becomes reshaped.

Another object of the invention is to afford an appliance so constructed that sheet fibrous stock passing therethrough becomes uniformly heated, moistened to a definite limited extent, and relieved of any entrained surplus moisture before the stock reaches the corrugating machine.

Other objects and advantages of the invention appear in the following description.

An illustrative embodiment of the invention is shown in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of a machine in which the invention is incorporated;

Fig. 2 is a detail fragmentary top plan view of a guide roller and its mount used in the machine;

Fig. 3 is a front elevational view of the structure shown in Fig. 1, a portion thereof being broken away;

Fig. 4 is a diagrammatical side view showing part of the instant invention in conjunction with a stock supply roll and a corrugating machine;

5 Fig. 5 is a fragmentary cross-sectidnal view of the structure shown in Fig. l, the section being on the line 5-5 thereof;

Fig. 6 is an end elevational view partly in section of one of the steam and heatapplicating units that form part of the invention; and

Fig. 7 is a schematic diagram illustrating a preferred arrangement of steam exposure apertures.

The illustrative embodiment of the invention consists of an appliance by which transient sheet fibrous stock is preheated uniformly, subjected to contact with steam and concurrently heated uniformly by contact with a hot supporting. surface, and subsequently subjected to a drying operation during passage of ,the stock to a corrugating or other sheet-stock reshaping machine.

In the structure there are included a series of individual steam and heat applicators, a steam supplier provided with a distributor connected with each of the applicators separately, and a guide roller'Tadjustably supportedin juxtaposition with the applicators by which the course of transient fibrous stock sheet is closely confined at its approach to the pre-heating, steaming and drying element of the apparatus.

The applicators One feature of the invention is the construction and relative arrangement of likesteam and heat applicator units 8 disposed in a bank upon a transverse bridge-beam 9 the ends of which preferably have trunnions ID that extend into hangers ll suspended from a supporting frame ,lZ. Each applicator unit 8 (Fig. 6) consists of a metal box shaped to have fiat parallel end walls 8 provided with alined openings 8 the walls being taper-counter-bored to provide concentric gasket seats 8 One wall l3 of the box is arcuate in one direction and extends transversely in a plane parallel with the axes of the openings 8 and presents a smooth exterior curved face I3. The box has therein receiving and exit steam chambers I4 and I5 respectively that are separated from each other by baffles I6, the inner edges of which are located at points spaced back slightly from-the openings 8 and that portion of the arcuate wal1l3 that overlies the exit chamber is foraminiferous, having madetherein uniformly grouped outlets H, the wall being taper-counter-bored coincidently with each outlet to provide corresponding exteriorsteam expansion cavities l8. One of the baffles has made therein at apointjadjacent the arcuate .wall a drain opening l9connecting said chambers.

The steam supplier Steam is delivered to the bank of applicator units through apparatus in which are included a radiator-and a distributing pipe system. Said radiator consists of 'a steamexpanslon chamber formed of a pipe 20 that extends transversely through the entire bank of applicator units 8, fitting the openings 8 therein and with its threaded ends projecting beyond the outer endmost of the units. The ends of the radiator are provided with corresponding heads and 20". Gaskets 2l that encircle the radiator pipe at points adjacent the end walls 8' of each unit bear tightly against the seats 8 and outer wall of the radiator pipe when the units are clamped endwise together upon tightening the heads 20-20" in place. Thus, escape of steam from said units out through their end wall openings into an adjacent unit or into the atmosphere is circumvented.

The steam distributor is maintained under control of the throttle valve The quantity of steam that enters the receiving chambers of the several applicator units is variable according to adjustment of the individual nipple valves 24, thus more or less uniformity of steam pressure within the units is established.

In each unit the steam envelopes the radiator in passing from the receiving chamber into the exit chamber and thereupon is re-heated and subsequently expelled at low pressure while hot through the outlets l1. Re-heating the steam in the chambers causes the temperature of the The receiving chamber I4 of each unit has I communication with a distributing pipe 22, lo-' cated beneath the bank of units, through individual nipples 23 that preferably are provided with hand operated valves 24, and the distributing pipe has connection with the radiator chamber through the head 20" by a feed pipe 25, which has a throttle valve 25, and one end of which terminates within the distributing pipe midway between the closed ends thereof, and is provided with openings 26 through which the The guide roller Another feature of the invention is the provision of a guide roller attachment which preferably consists of brackets 29 located adjacent the ends of the applicator bank and adjustably supported upon the trunnions 'ID. In connection with each bracket is provided a sprocket wheel 30 the hub 3| of which is journaled in the forward lower portion thereof, said wheel having an axially extending eccentric wrist-pin or stud 32. trically on said studs a guide .roller 33 preferably of tubular form with suitable ball bearings .34 in its ends to receive the corresponding studs.

It is desirable to maintain axial alinement of the sprocket wheels and likewise alinement of their studs so at all times the guide roller-is held aparellel with the common axis of the applicators. For this purpose there is provided mechanism for adjustably turning the sprocket wheels in unison, which preferably consists of an operating rod 35 provided at one end with a crank 36, and rotatively mounted in bearing blocks 31 that .are adjustably supported in the brackets 29 by jack-screws 38. On said operating rod are secured a pair of sprocket wheels 39 connected respectively with the companion wheels ill-by drive chains 40. Thus, upon turning the crank the guide roller is maneuvered into various positions ofadjustmen't parallel with the bank.

pressure as to the desired high temperature-thereof and from thence passes into the dis-Q Between said wheels is disposed concentributme ,Pipe in'which a lower steam pressure arcuate wall I3 of the units to rise beneficially as it retards condensation of the steam about the outlets.

The sheet stock to be treated usually is supplied in the form of a roll 4| (Fig. 4) from which it is drawn beneath the guide roller 33 over the arcuate faces of the applicators and between the fluting rollers 42 of a corrugating or other reshaping machine. During passage of the stock over the hot curved "faces of the units 'it is exposed to the steam expanded into the outlet cavities and is heated and moistened thereby, and moreover upon first contact with the smooth continuous surfaces of the units is preheated, and after passing the steam outlets is further heated and more or less dried upon contact with the continuation of the uninterrupted surfaces.

The outlets are arranged in stagger fashion and the areas thereof at the tops of their cavities are substantially equal to that of the surrounding face, so that the entire contacting surface of the stock during its travel over the applicator units is exposed directly 'to the steam. Thus is assured uniformity in the absorption ofheat and moisture by the stock.

.An advantage of the guide roller, as adjustably mounted, is that it enables the operator to conveniently splice the trailing end of one stock sheet with the lead end of a succeeding sheet, thus promoting continuous operation. For example: First, by imanipulation of the crank 36 (Fig. l), the roller 33 .is moved from its normal operating position A to position .3 or C thereby permitting insertion .of :the lead end of a succeeding sheet (-notshown) iunder the trailing end 45 of a preceding sheet and against the adjacent faces of the units, .and then by adjusting the roller to position D the overlapping sheet ends are pressed together and become entrained.

As in the usual practice, the sheet stock is drawn from the supply mll through the conditioning apparatus byacti'on of the corrugating machine, and the consequent'lengthwise tension imposed upon the sheet induces .it to warp. 'To obviate such tendency, the outer marginal edges of the cavities is, in thecpposing lateralun its respecting the mid-portion or" the bank, around the lower inner portions thereof are reduced -or blunted, as indicated by 41:. By this means the sheet is induced to spread laterally outward from its longitudinal mid-portionJ-and .lie flat across the arcuateface of the units as the sheet drifts against the sharper edges of the cavities opposite the bluntededges.

The apparatus is relieved from accumulations of liquid through drain pipes :22" that are provided with drip valves 22" that depend from the ends of the distributing pipe.

Variations from the particular construction above disclosed may be resorted to by the exercise of skill in the art, without departure from the spirit or scopeof the invention, and the fol lowing claims are intended to be inclusive of such variations.

What I claim is:

1. In apparatus for conditioning sheet fibrous stock, a series of like steam applicator units mounted to form a bank, each unit having an arcuate wall the mid-portion of which has made therein numerous outlets, and provided with a receiving chamber and an exit chamber, a radiator extending through said units between said chambers and provided with a steam supply means, a distributing pipe located exteriorly of said units having a throttle-valve controlled feedpipe therefor connected with the radiator and provided with individual nipple connections with the receiving chambers of said units, and a guide roller having adjustable supporting mechanism disposed in juxtaposition with said bank.

2. In apparatus for steam conditioning sheet fibrous stock, a steam applicator unit having a receiving chamber and an exit chamber, the overlying wall of said exit chamber having an exterior stock-supporting face and numerous outlets opening through said face, a radiator disposed in said unit between said chambers provided with a steam supply means therefor, a distributing pipe located exteriorly of said unit having a feed-pipe connection with said radiator and provided with a nipple connection with said receiving chamber and a drip-valve drain outlet, and a guide mechanism disposed adjacent said unit to direct travel of said stock.

3. In apparatus for steam and heat treating sheet fibrous stock, a bank of individual steam applicators, each provided with a steam-receiving chamber and a steam exit chamber and having a sheet contacting wall the mid-portion of which is foraminiferous and overlies the exit chamber, a radiator extending through said applicators between the chambers therein provided with steam supply means, and a steam distributing pipe system located exteriorly of said applicators connecting said radiator and the steam-receiving chambers of the individual applicators.

4. In apparatus for conditioning sheet fibrous stock, grouped steam applicators, each having end walls provided with alined openings, a steamreceiving chamber and a steam exit chamber and having a stock contacting wall, that portion of said wall that overlies the exit chamber being foraminiferous, a steam pipe extending through the applicators between said chambers, and connections controlled by valves for conveying steam from said pipe individually to the receiving chambers of said applicators.

5. In apparatus for conditioning sheet fibrous stock, a series of chambered steam applicators grouped together having alined walls that present a stock contacting face, portions of said walls being foraminiferous, a steam pipe extending through said applicators provided with steam supply means, and valve controlled steam connections located exteriorly of said applicators between said steam pipe and the chambers of said applicators individually.

6. In apparatus for conditioning sheet fibrous stock, a bank made up of chambered units having alined walls presenting a stock-contactin face that extends across the bank, the mid-portions of said walls being foraminiferous, and valve controlled means located exteriorly of said units for supplying steam individually to the chambers of said units.

7. In apparatus for conditioning sheet fibrous stock, a steam applicator member having a steam receiving chamber and a steam exit chamber, the wall of said member overlying said exit chamber being foraminiferous and presenting an exterior stock-supporting face, a steam pipe extending through said member between said chambers provided with steam supply means therefor, and valve-controlled steam connections located exteriorly of said member affording communication between said pipe and said receiving chamber.

8. In a conditioner for sheet fibrous stock, a box having a chamber for low steam pressure provided with numerous grouped steam outlets, a pipe for high steam pressure extending through said chamber adjacent said outlets, and a throttle valve-controlled pipe connecting said high pressure pipe with said chamber, the arrangement being such that the steam in said chamber while at low pressure is re-heated by contact with the high pressure pipe before passing through said outlets.

9. In a conditioner for sheet fibrous stock, a bank formed of chambered steam boxes grouped together presenting a stock contacting face, the wall of each box underlying said face having grouped outlets the bores of which are enlarged at their outer ends to provide steam expansion cavities, a radiator extending through said boxes provided with steam supply means, and steam distributing connections between the radiator and the individual boxes.

10. In a conditioner for sheet fibrous stock, chambered steam boxes grouped together to form a bank presenting a stock-supporting face, a portion of the wall of each box that underlies said face having a group of steam outlets the outer marginal edges of which around the lower inner portions thereof respecting the mid-portion of the bank being blunted wherefore to prevent warping of the sheet while traveling over said face.

11. In apparatus for conditioning sheet fibrous stock where the stock is caused to travel upon the J face of a steam applicator, a stock guiding means consisting of brackets mounted adjacent the ends of the applicator, axially alined wheels journaled in said brackets provided respectively with eccentric axially alined studs, means operatively connected with said wheels wherefore to adjustably turn the wheels in unison, and a guide roller supported concentrically on said studs and parallel with the applicator face.

12. In a conditioner for sheet fibrous stock, a steam applicator consisting of chambered boxes grouped together and presenting a stock-supporting face, a portion of the wall of each box that underlies said face being foraminiferous, a high pressure steam pipe provided with a steam supply means therefor, extending through said boxes, a distributing pipe having a throttle valve-controlled connection with said steam pipe, and provided with drip valve-controlled outlets, and connections between the distributing pipe and the chambers of the individual boxes so that steam upon entering said chambers, while at low pressure is re-heated by contact with said steam pipe before becoming discharged through the foraminiferous walls of said boxes.

ROBERT H. GREENE. 

